7 February 2023
As the Netherlands branch of the Turkish Beyazay Association, the 23 April event we organised jointly with our Sakarya branch between 19 and 25 April was carried out successfully. One of the most important aims of the event was to enable our children of Turkish origin living in the Netherlands to experience the excitement of 23 April together with their peers in Türkiye for the first time. Because of the weather conditions this was only partly successful. But our other aims went even beyond our expectations. For example, during the rafting in Düzce, during the horse therapy in the same city, during the shore walk at Lake Sapanca and during the climbing at the Adventure Park, the sparkle in the eyes of our special children reflected their happiness completely.
At the Rehabilitation Centre, the families of our special children who came from the Netherlands and the families of our special children living in Türkiye shared their experience and knowledge in the same setting, and we witnessed a most beneficial meeting. During this programme the special children of the two countries experienced the same setting. That too was a special exchange for them.
One of the important benefits for association directors like ourselves was our visit to the Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Department of Social Services. The Head of Department, Mr Davut Yüce, personally guided us and gave us the opportunity to examine and see all units of the disability services on the spot. There, efforts are made to advance the social development of our children with disabilities in a hands-on way in order to increase their knowledge and manual skills. Some of these are painting, drama, music, handicrafts, cooking and English lessons, and mixed teaching areas have been created for children and adults with and without disabilities. This work filled us with admiration.
Our visit to OÇEM (the Education Centre for Children with Autism) also carried very valuable meaning. On this visit we were very glad to see the importance recently given to autism in Türkiye. On this school visit too, the families from the two countries again took part in sharing their troubles and their experience.
At the invitation of the Head of the Department of Social Services of Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality, Mr Davut Yüce, we attended the Sufi Concert entitled ‘From Hearts Without Barriers' organised by that department. At this programme we witnessed a feast of Qur'an recitation by our brothers and sisters with disabilities and a performance of Sufi music.
This project of ours, which included many other programmes and visits large and small, produced very beneficial and positive results for our special children brought with us from the Netherlands and their families, for ourselves and at the same time for our Sakarya branch. There is no doubt whatsoever that through mutual bilateral relations of this kind between the two countries, the Netherlands and Türkiye, both sides will gain — and have gained — most beneficial results. Indeed, as a result an agreement was also made with our Sakarya branch on a return visit.
We thank most warmly all those who contributed to this excellent event: our Head Office, and of course Ms Nazan Yılmaz above all.
We consider it a duty to thank in particular our Vice President Mr Ferruh Kaledibi. He put in a very great deal of effort. We are also especially grateful to the young President of our Sakarya branch, Ms Nadiye Kabakçı, who did not leave us alone for a moment.
We thank the Head of the Department of Social Services of Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality, Mr Davut Yüce, for his very close attention and all the effort he put in. We consider it a duty to thank the Sakarya Provincial Director of the Ministry of Family and Social Policies, Mr Mutlu Işıksu, who received us and endeared himself to our special children with his warmth.
I would like to express our gratitude to the President of our association's Düzce branch, Mr Nurullah Çelebi, who hosted us for a day in Düzce. The hospitality of the Mayor of Düzce, Mr Mehmet Keleş, is also beyond description and we thank him. We also thank the Director of Social Assistance Affairs of Düzce Municipality, Ms Ayşe Kılıç.
And of course those who deserve the most special thanks are the staff of the Barrier-Free Café. They gave us excellent service. We are grateful.
Mehmet Dağlıoğlu
Turkish Beyazay Association
President of the Netherlands Branch